The Progressive Democrat Newsletter grew out of the frustration of the 2004 election. Originally intended for New York City progressives, its readership is now national. For anyone who wants to be alerted by email whenever this newsletter is updated (usually weekly), please send your email address and let me know what state you live in (so I can keep track of my readership).

Right wing racism rears it's ugly head yet again. The ill-named American Values and Focus on the Family Action Forum (a group which seems unAmerican and displays terrible values) sells "Obama Waffles" with racial stereotype. What is with Republicans? How can they think this kind of adolescent racism is okay?

North Carolina is a Senate battleground this year and we have a pretty good shot at winning. Dole has shown a pretty dismal record if you look carefully, as this person does.

Kay Hagen is our candidate to beat Dole and she is polling a bit ahead of Dole now. From Hagen's website:

Kay Hagan knows that you do not make a difference standing on the sideline. Before her decade of service in the North Carolina Senate, she was a vice president at NCNB (now Bank of America), then North Carolina’s largest bank.

While in the state Senate, she has proven to be an effective leader who is not afraid to do the hard work to bridge partisan divides and always put people before politics. Named one of North Carolina’s “Ten Most Effective Senators,” three terms in a row by the non-partisan North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research, Governor Mike Easley calls Kay “one of the smartest, hardest working, most effective senators we have in Raleigh.”

I notice Hagan's campaign seems extremely well organized, which will really increase her chances of winning. You can help in many ways by signing up here. Even if you aren't in North Carolina you can help by phone banking from home (a strategy that worked extremely well in a NY State Congressional race in 2006!)

Next let me highlight Larry Kissell, running for Congress. Larry almost certainly won in 2006, but voter fraud that lost thousands of votes, probably stealing the election. What is most disturbing is that most of those votes that were "lost" were military voters. Kissell is runnig again and is very likely to win. He was a Textile Worker for 27 years and is now a teacher at East Montgomery High School. Sounds like an ideal Democrat! And Larry Kissell seems to be doing excellently in fundraising.

Greensboro Sustainable Living Meetup Group:Meet others in your town interested in various Environmental issues on global and/or a local level.

This is a forum for people to get together and discuss issues and share ideas on sustainable living. Let's share ideas about organic and locally grown food, reducing toxins in our environment, reducing our use of resources, the carbon issue, raising healthy children, etc.

People who should join include those with expertise to share, those wanting to learn more, and anyone interested in building community through environmental initiatives. For more info, go here.

Governors Debate Biofuels (and a reminder of my own view on biofuels). Seems to me oil and coal producing states are pushing to stop biofuels, corn and soy producing states want biofuels based on corn and soy, and wood producing states want biofuels based on wood. No surprise there. But we really do need a smart policy here.

North Carolina Sustainable Agriculture Organizations and Publications: Whether you're a beginning farmer, or an experienced agricultural producer interested in transitioning to more sustainable practices, you may want to start by learning more about the principles of sustainable agriculture and some of the "systems" approaches associated with it.

The Women In Black stand in silence against war, each Friday from 5 to 6 PM. All others are welcome to stand with them.

Democratic Women of Union County hold their monthly meeting the second Monday of every month at the Hilltop Restaurant Hwy 74 and 601 South. Seating for "Dutch Dinner" at 5:30PM, Program & Business at 6:00PM

Cabarrus County Senior Democrats have their monthly meeting the second Tuesday of every month at Troutman's BBQ restaurant, 1388 US-601-BYP S, Concord, NC. They start at 6.30 pm and for $7 you can enjoy a delicious BBQ buffet.

Mecklenburg County Democratic Women meet on the second Wednesday of each month, usually at a local library. Meet and greet from 6:30 p.m. to 7:00. Meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. Contact: Joan Belk, 704-578-4227

Mecklenburg County Senior Democratsmeet on the second Friday of each month at Walls AME Zion Church, 2722 Bancroft St. Bring a bag lunch if desired. Meeting time is Noon. Contact Sam Brown, 704-553-9061 or sambev_at_bellsouth.net

The Young Democrats of Mecklenburg County meet on the second Sunday of each month at 7:00 pm. Locations will vary and will be announced in advance of each meeting. Contact Becky Gomer, 704-200-8801 or president_at_meckyoungdems.org

The Hillsborough Democracy for America MeetupProgressive meetup, meeting others to learn more about local strategies and Democracy For America. This Meetup is officially brought to you by Democracy for America. I am Paul Aaron and have volunteered to lead. In 2005, I became the MoveOn local coordinator. After the 2006 election, the chairmanship of a local Democratic precinct became available. Should a Progressive be with MoveOn or inside the Democratic Party? This is the question I asked. My friend, Jo-Anne, a national Progressive worker, said we could use a Progressive inside the Party. For more info, go here.

"Third Thursday Group", a North Carolina Democratic "think tank", meets every third Thursday at Restaurant Costello's from 6.30 to 8.30 pm. 970 Branchview Dr NE, Concord, NC. Join us again to express your views and help to shape the party's agenda as we move into the future!

African-American Caucus of Mecklenburg CountyTakes place the third Thursday of each Month, at 7:00 pm, at the Texas Land & Cattle Co., 517 University Center Blvd. Contact Michael Lawson 704-458-8150 or mamlawson_at_carolina.rr.com

Cabarrus County Democratic Women will have their monthly meeting the fourth Thursday of every month at the Stowe A-Way fish restaurant, starting at 6.30 pm. 455 Corban Ave Se, Concord, NC. All Democrats are encouraged to attend.

And for those who want to combine social events with politics, here are the Drinking Liberally Groups in North Carolina:

Charlotte, North Carolina * First Monday and Third Wednesday of each month, 7:00 pm onward * First Monday of the month Location: Brixx Uptown, 225 E 6th St (we usually gather at the bar, on the LEFT side) * Be sure to bring in your parking pass for validation, and to tell the parking attendant you are going to Brixx so they don't charge you $5! * Third Wednesday of the month Location: Dolce Vita, 3205 N Davidson St 1/2 priced wines by the glass on Wednesday * Hosted by Marcus Williams, Andy Graves and Mark Campbell, charlotte (at) drinkingliberally.org

Charlotte Eating Liberally * Second Saturday of each month, 10:00 am * Matthews Community Farmers' Market, 105 N Trade St, Matthews (We meet at the tables just outside of the Community House Coffee Shop) * Come by after collecting your week's bounty & join us for a cup of coffee from the community house and a freshly baked pastery from one of the vendors! * Bring your favorite organic/local/sustainable related books or recipes. * Hosted by Laura Paynter and Heather Taylor, charlotte (at) eatingliberally.org